National Sport

Brown could skipper Scotland

Kelly Brown could succeed Ross Ford as Scotland captain for the Test with New Zealand, with head coach Andy Robinson to announce his skipper next week.

Saracens back-row Brown was Robinson's first choice captain for the 2012 RBS 6 Nations, but suffered a broken ankle and Edinburgh hooker Ford took the honour.

"I think he (Ford) has done very well as a leader and captaining the team," said Robinson, as he announced a 34-man squad, featuring seven uncapped players, for next week's training camp in St Andrews.

"He's a quality player and a quality person and I'm delighted to see the way that he captained the side.

"We've got Kelly coming into the squad, which is great. I have real belief in what he's about as a leader."

Ford suffered defeat in his first five matches as skipper as Scotland finished with the wooden spoon, before improving the record as Scotland won their three summer tour Tests in Australia, Fiji and Samoa.

Brown is available again for the November 11 EMC Test with the world champions, meaning there could be another change in the leadership.

Robinson added: "When you look at Al Kellock, Jim Hamilton, both captaining their teams, Greig Laidlaw captaining Edinburgh, two scrum-halves (Mike Blair and Rory Lawson) that have both captained Scotland... we've got experience there now, with the leadership."

Robinson's men are bidding to put a dismal 2011-12 campaign behind them, beginning against world champions New Zealand, a side Scotland have never beaten.

Robinson has told his players to relish facing the All Blacks, saying: "It's a great opportunity for players to really test themselves and for us to be clear on where we are."

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